The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-07-21
VOL. XVI.
TIMELY TOPICS FOR FARMERS.
HOW TO DO PAYING WORK AT THIS
SEASON.
Suggestions of Interest, from an Authori-
tatiVe Source.


The reader of these "Thoughts for
the Month" should bear in mind that
they are chiefly in the nature of sugges-
tions or reminders of work proper to be
done on the farm during the current
month. The "Thoughts" relate 10 and
flow out of the discussion of these sub
jects. Farmers ore like other men, often
forgetful Of duty, obligation and pur-
pose, and must be reminded. An old
proverb says there is nothing new under
the sun, OF "words to that eflect,' and
it is about as true of farming as of other
departments of hfe-work. The larger
part of the teachings of the present agri-
cultural books and periodicals-in fact
nearly every principle laid down-is but
repetition. New facts arc few and far
between. Agricultural teachers and
writers--including editors-are rarely
conscious of telling anything new. What
is really new and before unknown IN the
agricultural world-tho result of the re-
searches of year-would make cnly
few paragraphs in The Cultivator.
cline upon line, precept upon pre-
cept, was mover moro aptly quoteC. @s q
rule for guidance in teaching than in all
efforts for the dissemination of as ricul-
tural knowledge. We vary the fo:m of
expression, or change the connecti>n II, VIC
utter from different standpoint al idea,
often before presented, without making
any impression-without finding a lOdg-
R,,t l,p 4 Loo
attractive; the wonder is that it. was
never thought of before; it max IS an
impression, Il eXcitcs inouiry, provokes
investigation; 1t is iinully tested by prac-
tice and its value realized. SO ':M. sdom
runs to and fro and knowledge - III
creased"
LAYING BY.
1t used to be a common custom IN
Middle Georgia and corresponding re-
gions Of other States to lay by the crops
of corn and cotton before the "GlC rious
Fourth" 1t was the ambition OF overy
owner or manager of farm or plAnta-
tioA to have corn and cotton hUIys SO
clean that not "basketful" Of Erass
might be gathered III a search of tie en-
tire crop. The changes in the condi-
tions of labor and soil have extended the
period of cultivation. We have not SO
large proportion Of virgin and fresh
lands in cultivation; our soils have been
largely deprived of their vegetable mat
ter, and have acquired the habit of ''rr~
ming together" and forming va
after each rain. This involv
necessity for the work of th1
cultivator to keep the surface loose and
porous, and the actual impoverish hucnt
OF the soil requires longer time for the
lDlantS to reach that size and condition
OF development where culture ~ no
Ionger required, OF may no longer be
permitted without actual loss. In respect
Of cotton, while the improved varieties
are generally earlier in fruit develop
ment, yet the tendency is to plow or
sweep through the crops rather later
tnan formerly. There IS no eascutial
difference in the objects and details OF
cultivation in July as compared with
June. Corn has generally received its
final working, which should be thor
oughly well done but very shallow. We
used to think that the most effective
hoe-work in the corn-iicld was that
wh ich was done as the final "laying by"
of tl.'e crop when the struggling lunches
of gE,ass and those around grubs and
stumps that had eluded the plowman so
long were destroyed by the slower but
suror WORK OF tho hoeman. This final
hoeing-jf ihere be time to give it-nced
not be row by row, but sort of broad
casting over the field, several rows bcinp.
taken by each hand at one time. The
same remarks will rlso apply to the "lay-
ing by of cotton, both rs to plowing
and hoeing, the same object being lad
Ein IN ho
of steady plant-growth and DEVELOPMENT
We utterly disapprove of the practice Of
chilling up" corn either with plow or
hoe. 1t is aptly described by some one
as "taking tho soil from where it is
needed and putting it where it is not
needed"
PLOwING IN DRY WEATHER..
If ttere occur prolonged spells of dry
weather, and the clean condition Of the
crop-the absence Of grass and weeds
makes it unnecessary to use plOW or
sweep for then destruction, the question
will arise whether it is a good general
rule to ploW cOttOn-iiGld when there
has been no rain since last plOWing and
the field is absolutely clc0n Of weeds
Hhe question will occur to any farmer
OF few years experience, and 1t is GER
tainly n practical one. Some farmers
believe in plowing deeper as the ground
becomes dryer, claiming that deep plow-
ing will "bring up the moisture" Now,
deep plowing will "bring up tho moist
ure," in the sense That the moist soil that
lies several inches below the surface will
be brought to the surface; but VIC can
see no benefit or advantage il removing
TIE soil with its contained moisture from
the neIghboorhood of tho plant roots
(wherG it can do the most good, and
bringing it to the surface to be immcdi.
Rtely dried iy the sun and wind. Ou
own experieneG and observation arc op.
rosed to the practice of plowing a field
mt has been once thoroughly plowcd
ice any rain has fallen. It may moi
suit in actual harm to the Rrowi. g
.op, and the latter may even be benC
Ited, but it is extremely doubtful if the
"game be worth the CANDLE"
SOWING PEAs--CLoYER.
In those fields of corn which have No,
received the final plOwing, we urge the
sowing of peas when that work is done